Casting floats



Aug. 24, 1965 F. E. GRAHAM CASTING FLOATS Filed May 25, 1964 UnitedStates Patent 3,201,82 CAfi'lilNG FLOATS Francis E. Graham, Coe Hill,Qntario, Canada Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,783 2 Claims. ((35.43-43.1l)

My invention relates to casting floats, an object being to provide animproved float assembly of the character herewithin described, by meansof which the leading portion of a fishing line may be held wound arounda cylindrical and sinkable, perforated housing as the float is castthrough the air, instead of being strung out over several feet duringthis performance, whereby a longer and more sensorially satisfying castmay be made, and whereby the extreme end-tackle comprising sinker, bait,hook and the like, may be caused to separate from proximity to theaforesaid housing and the float as a whole, after all of it, and thefloat, hits the water.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improveddevice of the character herewithin described which includes a novelline-braking means which is extremely simple structurally, and which canbe manipulated very easily and without particular dexterity, such aswhen the hands are cold, wet or slippery, or when the user is wearinggloves, or when his eyesight may be impaired for example.

A further object is to provide line-braking means which are adjustableas to the frictional force with which the line is held thereby.

A further object of the present invention is to provide is a fioat,line-braking means which can be caused to yield desirably when thefloat-as-a-whole has been wound in to the point where it is hearingagainst the end of the rod, so that the end-portion of the line whichwas previously beyond the float, and containing the aforesaidend-tackle, may be drawn-in so that such end-tackle may be drawnupwardly against the float.

I A further object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe character herewithin described by the use of which the end of theline beyond the float and wound thereon, cannot become unwound duringflight through the air in the act of casting.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described in which the float cannot possibly becomeseparated from the line and accidentally lost.

A further object is to provide a device of the character herewithindescribed which is simple in construction, and well designed forproduction either wholly or partially of plastic, or plastic and metal,and which can be produced, as to its component parts, and the sameassembled, at a cost enabling the final product to be sold to theultimate user at a reasonable and attractive price.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such others as may becomeapparent as this specification proceeds, the present invention consistsin the following arrangement and construction of parts, all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal and predominantly crosssectionalrepresentation of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE. 1.

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an underside plan-view of FIGURE 1 looking upwardly or frombeneath.

FIGURE 6 is a detail having particular reference to FIGURE 4.

In the drawings, like characters of reference designate similar parts inthe several figures.

The present invention consists essentially of four main parts, that isto say, a sinkable housing of cylindrical configuration and collectivelydesignated 1, a central buoyant float collectively designated 2, andenclosed but free, for imited vertical movement within housing 1,line-braking means collectively designated 3, and line-locking meanscollectively designated 4.

Housing 1 is provided with an upper enclosing end plate 5 provided withthe open radial slot 6, and a base plate 7 provided with a plurality ofwater admitting apertures 8, together with the radial slot 9 inlongitudinal co-axial alignment with slot 6.

The buoyant internal float collectively designated 2 is in the form of ahollow and loosely fitting cylindrical body having an upper enclosingwall 9 and a bottom wall It). By best reference to the accompanying FIG-URE 1 it will be observed, from the absence of crosshatching at 11 thatan open-sided radial slot 12 (see also the accompanying FIGURE 5) fromend to end of the casting assembly comprising the present invention.This slot also exists in float 2 there being designated generally by thenumeral 13, one wall of the slot being enumerated l4, and the oppositeparallel and adjacent wall being fragmentarily shown and designated 15.The upper and lower ends 9' and 10 of the float are also slotted, all tothe end that a continuous slot exists whereby line 16 may be insertedinto the casting assembly to substantially the longitudinal axis thereofas best shown in the accompanying FIGURE 1. The trough of slot 13 isindicated by the hatched line 17. The slots 11 and 13 are preserved inregistration by means of the pair of triangular elements 1 5 whichcomprises two parallel and slightly spaced guiding-wall portions 17' and18, the trough whereof is designated 19. The element 16 is secured atits lower edge as by brazing or the like to the edges of slot 9 in baseplate '7, the portions 17 and 1% being shown in fragmentary and phantomform to illustrate the aforesaid location in the accompanying FIGURE 5.

The purpose of element 16 is of course to preserve the slots 12 and 13in registration. The wall portions or surfaces 17 and 1% lie closelyparallel with and against walls 14 and 15 within the slot 13. Freedom ihowever permitted so that the float 2 is not obstructed thereby.

The line-braking mechanism collectively designated 3, in detailcomprises an L-shaped frame portion 20 of which the lower horizontalportion 21 is deeper than the vertical portion 22. Both said portionsconsist of a pair of parallel but slightly spaced strips of material 23and 24, the pair of strips of material constituting the vertical portion22 being secured as by soldering to the edges of slot 6 upon theunderside thereof. Reference to FIG- URE 3 is made in this particularconnection. The portions 23 and 24 are joined at 25 (see theaccompanying assembly. s a

The portions 23 and 24, are held, where they are 7 it win readily berecognised that the space between the portions Band 24 constitute joinedby 25, by means of a yoke-26. Extending between the upper end 27 of thetrough portion 25, and plate 5, is .a slightly bowed thin supportingstrip 28. Brazed where indicated to 28, are line receptacles 29 and 30of the form best illustrated in the accompanying FIGURE .6.

Extending between the upper and lower horizontalpor tions of the yoke 26(the upperportion of which is brazed to the underside of plate 7) is arotatable locking element collectivelydesignated 31. In detail the samecomprises upper and lower arms 32 and-33 together with upper and lowerloop p0rtions'34 and 35. These are united 'by a central inwardlyprojecting piece 36, to which is brazed an.

upstanding'actuating rod 37 capable of moving in an arc along the slot38 formed in plate 5. Also formed in plate 5 is a slightly arcuate slot39 through which a hook 40 extends, the upper end of the hook being inthe form of end to said hook, and at the other'to theaperture 44 (see 1the accompanying FIGURE 4). "As a result of all the 2 opposite hookedend 54 ofthelatch, when in the operative and line-hooking position ofthe accompanying FIG- URE l, bears up against a small verticallydisposed plate 55 brazed to plate '7, and nests between the two smallposts 56 which are'in turn'brazed to both plates 55 and 7. To' preventline 16 from accidentally moving out. of slot 12, a spring strip 57 isprovided, brazed to plate 7 at the location 58. This strip is designednormally to intercept slot12, and it terminates in a small shoe portion59 which squarely intercepts slot712, and hence obviously prevents theline from escaping.

. The housing 1 is preferably provided with a set of longitudinally.triangular or tapered fins 60 which project radially therefrom,andflbeyond-the lower 'end of the casting assembly as at 61. The purposeof these is to stabilize the invention, prevent it from rotatingundesirably in the water, and to. assist the same in fiightg Importantlyalso, these finsare provided to facilitate the winding of the 7 'leadingportion of, line; 16 around the present casting assembly so as toreducestill further and virtually to the point of impossibility, thelikelihoodof its becoming un- I wound before striking the water.

foregoing, it is to be understood that when post 37 is ro-- Having thusdescribedthe construction of the present invention, its operatiomto theextent this has not already been made plain,-will be setforth. I I '1The line 16 is obviously first introduced through the main open-ended,slotalready referred to.- The first step after. thatis to lock the upperend by snapping-over the post 37 in the manner already described. Theline is now locked at the upper end, and extends through the lower end,or in other words, through slot 12 as best exemplified center piece 36may be snapped against member 28 with-.

out intercepting the elements 29 and 30 which 'pass through the loops 34and 35.

a in the accompanying FIGURE 5. It is now moved radially across, lifteda little and wound as many times as may be desired, as'indicated in theaccompanying FIGURES The post 37 will snap against either end of theslot 38 7 V tackle commences, the line is broughtback in and underaccording as to whether it is moved clockwise or counter-..

clockwise. 'Also, it will be appreciated that the tension of" of thesaid plate.

The loop portions 34 and 35 are right angulated or.

hooked over when viewed in plan as best depicted in the accompanyingFIGURE 6. A's'a result, 'it will b'e apparent that although the loops 34and 35 hearing against.

line 16when it is between the prongs of details 29, will brake and holdthe. line securely against longitudinal movement, yet, when the castingassembly together; with all the end tackle has been reeled in so thattheupper end. of the assembly comes up against the end of the fishingunderstood that thedevice'rnay be invertedso that float .1 and'S, aroundhousing 1, and around'the fins 60.

When wound up to almostthe point wherethe end plate 7 and hooked. ,over'latch 47 again as clearly'illustrated in the accompanying FIGURES 5 and6. For the purpose of booking the line through the latch, it is to be2is raised so that latch 47 may be rotated clockwise. Thus the line 16is placed in position before the latch 47 is moved into the position itoccupies in the accompanying FIGURE 1, andthe float dropped, byrestoring the assembly to the position shown.

From all the foregoing it follows that when the assembly with the endtackle securely locked is castor flung through the air, it stays inplace. Upon hitting the water however the water enters housing 1 throughapertures 8 and sinks somewhah- On the other hand, float 2, beingbuoyant, tends toriserrelative to housing 1. As a result,

rod 46, excessive tension on the line 16 will pull it.

straight as best depicted in the accompanying FIGURE 4, awayfrom theportion 28. Thus, althoughthe arms 32 and 33, and the central portion 36are still bearing against the line, they must be doing so with lesspressure than previously. Asa result, it is now possible for theusersaid latch projecting through an aperture 48 in plate .7,

and mounted for swinging movement upon-fa pin 49 ex-.

tending between a pair of small upstanding brackets 50 that all thatportion of the ,line which has been wound 'latch 47 rotates clockwiseunder the weight of the line helowit. In other words, the portion 53rises out of engage- 'ment with'theportion 52; It. follows as aconsequence around the fins 60 can unwind and sink with the end tackleincluding the sinkerfbait and the like while the castingassembly remainsbuoyant in virtue of the float 2.

Since various modifications, can be made to the novel subject-matterherein, without departing from the invenwithin housing 1, and secured tothe opposite edges. 51 of said aperture 48. a 1 a The upper end 52 oflatch 47 isloaded orweighted, and

hence-overbalanced so that it tends tozrotate clockwise with respect tothe accompanying FIGURE 1, and bears against the vertical wall-portionof the recess 53 formed in the bottom 10 of float 2 to receive the saidlatch. The

tive concept which the same embodies, it is not intended that protectionof this invention by Letters Patentshould be interpreted as'restrictedto the particular modifications thereof particularly described andexemplified.

f What I claim as my invention is:

a 1. A casting assembly comprising in combination a central buoyantfloat, a surrounding sinkable housing enclosing said float, said floatbeing free for limited vertical movement within and between the upperand lower ends of. said housing, said housing including at its apex,linebra king means, and at its base, at least one Water admitting'aperture and line-lockingmeans, said float and housinto which said line maybe inserted, said housing also including a lower enclosing plate towhich said line locking means is secured, said line locking meansincluding a pivoted latch projecting below said plate, said latchincluding a catch within said housing, said float having means on itslower end co-operating with said catch for releasing said catch whensaid float becomes buoyant upon striking water thereby releasing anassociated line to the extent it is wound around said housing prior tobeing locked therein.

2. The device according to claim 1 which includes a pair ofline-intercepting posts on either side of said latch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 SAMUEL KOREN,

Davis 43-4491 X Wells 43-4491 Carpenter 43-4491 Landrum 43-43.11

Turner 43-43.11 Friday 4344.91 X

Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiner.

1. A CASTING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CENTRAL BUOYANT FLOAT,A SURROUNDING SINKABLE HOUSING ENCLOSING SAID FLOAT, SAID FLOAT BEINGFREE FOR LIMITED VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITHIN AND BETWEEN THE UPPER ANDLOWER ENDS OF SAID HOUSING, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING AT ITS APEX,LINEBRAKING MEANS, AND AT ITS BASE, AT LEAST ONE WATER ADMITTINGAPERTURE AND LINE-LOCKING MEANS, SAID FLOAT AND HOUSIING EACH BEINGPROVIDED WITH COINCIDING OPEN-SIDED SLOT INGO WHICH SAID LINE MAY BEINSERTED, SAID HOUSING ALSO INCLUDING A LOWER ENCLOSING PLATE TO WHICHSAID LINE LOCKING MEANS IS SECURED, SAID LINE LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING APIVOTED LATCH PROJECTING BELOW SAID PLATE, SAID LATCH INCLUDING A CATCHWITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID FLOAT HAVING MEANS ON ITS LOWER ENDCO-OPERATING WITH SAID CATCH FOR RELEASING SAID CATCH WHEN SIAD FLOATBECOMES BUOYANT UPON STRIKING WATER THEREBY RELEASING AN ASSOCIATED LINETO THE EXTENT IT IS WOUND AROUND SAID HOUSING PRIOR TO BEING LOCKEDTHEREIN.